Interfax: Ryabkov predicts countermeasures in response to new U.S. sanctions on Russia

MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax) – Russia will respond to new sanctions from the United Sates if they are imposed, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

“If the threats are followed by real actions, we will act as before, staying calm and reserved – that is, ensure alternative forms and ways of achieving the tasks faced by our economic operators, move in the direction of the further reduction of dependence on U.S. systems in the sphere of banking and financial operations,” Ryabkov told reporters on Thursday.

“Other countermeasures will be taken if the need arises,” he said.

“However, like before, none of our actions taken in response to U.S. provocations and attempts to negatively influence our socio-economic situation will be taken to the detriment of our own interests,” Ryabkov said.

It is the U.S. systems in the sphere of financial operations “that are used the most actively and heavily for anti-Russian purposes,” he said.